Education secretary Charles Clarke has set how a third term Labour government would take forward reforms to create "opportunity for all".

At the Labour Party conference in Brighton Clarke promised "a crusade to give every child, whatever their background, the best start in life".

He pledged a massive extension of free childcare, with a promise that all schools would provide "wraparound" facilities able to look after children from 8.00am to 6.00pm.

Clarke also said that Sure Start centres, designed to help the poorest parents and their children, would be extended to all communities.